Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

92 ow = TIE: Tae > —a ees Saag ea Rp et AO A a BLUE8SKIN: A ROMANCE. _ EAT, AE, that must be done ? that something must be I know full | Precisely 80, your lordship. Do yoa approve of my well.” “ ¥f T should advise, my lord, I should say get md of her. Put it out of her power to ever appear aud prove her identity.” ** No, no, Steggs, I have been bad enough—am bad enough—but I could not deliberately plan the murder of @ young and beautiful girl; you said thal she was bvau- tifa Steggs, did you not ?” “] did, my lord.” “ T eould not do it, Steges, I could not do it.” “Do what?” * Murder‘her !” “Then,” muttered o-ck, bet:veen his tecth, * you are not quite so bad as | took you tor, and I am glad of it.” *‘ Surely your lordslup never contemplated such a thing. It would be hazardous in thie extreme. of disposing of a person Md murder! arise to cause detection. The disappearance of the victim, the insuperable difficulties there are in the way of getting rid of a body when the life has been removed; all these, my lord, combine to make murder out of the question.” “Tam glad of that, very glad. But how is she to be got rid of ?”’ ‘““The modes are numerous. It remains for you to choose whichever you may consider the safest and the best.”’ ‘Speak out, then,” said his lordship, resuming 113 seat. ‘You are craftier than} am. Speak out: Tell me the one which, in your politic brain, you think most hkely to sueceed.”’ There was a moment’s silenec. The interest with which Jacek continucd to listen to this conference is indeseribable. Already he could eee that a scheme of deep villany was afloat, of which all that he had heard was but the induc- tion, and his impatience to know what it was the inan Steggs would propoze was painful in the extreme. Ife was at no lo.s to gather from the conversation he lmd heard a succinct account of the whole affair. The elder brother of the man who was addressed hy Steggs as my lord, had evidently possessed some valuable estates. His sole heiress was his daughter, and to her was every- thing bequeathed. But his younger brother coveted the estates. A child was all that prevented Lim from having them. This child he had caused to be abducted by a man named Withams, to whom he had given instructions to destrpy its life. But on his deathbed this man confessed the truth, and pointed out where the ¢irl could be found, as Le imagined, to the man Steggs, who had made the younger brother acquainted with his dying statement, and had eided with him to keep the property froin its lawful woer. This was simply the state of the case. But already had Jack determined to frustrate this plan, let it be what it might. lfence his anxiety and impatience to know what Steggs would utter next. At last he spoke. His voiee was low and cold. * My lord,” he said, ‘‘ we will start witha, disputable proposition, and that is, that it hesinthe power ot two persons, acting in concert, to take away with impunity the life a third party.” ““Isthis sor” ** Assuredly. her decrees are as fallible as they well eould be.” ‘But what is it that is to be doner” again asked his lordship. ‘Time pass’s. What would you do?’ Make hera felon!” A felon r” * Yes, a felon.” * But bow cau such a thing be done fr” ‘‘There is no difficulty in finding the means. done, and, my lord, you will be sate.” “Tndeed! How 0?” “Can it be possible your lordshir 1s unaeqnainted with | she circumstance that by tLe laws of England a felon—a gonvicted felon—can never succeed to an inberitance *”’ “True! I was aware, but had forgotten it. now, Steggs. D —anidtrankia pa mare in the matt! ar. ca Fools only think | A thousand things | Well is justice represented blind, since | j | | Tt can be | I see’ You would get ber convicted—transported | ) nae) Weg EE @ j been, were strongly enlisted in favour of the poor shrond- plan of action Pr” * {t isa devilish one.” Your lordship flatters me.” “God forbid! No, no, Steggs your pian is gocd, uncuestionably, but it has one tault.”? “(ne fault ?” ** Yess; itis too intricate.” Stepgs was silent. “And not only that, too tedious. Setting aside the trouble there would be to get up and sustain a case that would entail conviction, think, in the meantime, what a many chances there ight be of cil beiug discovered. No, no, Steggs, that will not do.” “Tam sorry you think so, your lordship. But what is it you yourself advise ?”’ ‘Some plan involving promptitude of action—some- thing that can be put into execution and completed in half-an-hour.” ‘* Boldness and rapidity are good qualities in a scheme, but the risk is always’ so much inereased.” ‘*{ think the msk could scarcely be greater than the one you have proposed. In that there are so many cir- eumstances, and all so dependent upon one another, that, like some long chain by which a prisoner is descending from a fearful heigh‘, should one link be imperfect, de- struction would bo inevitable.” You are righ’ the. my lord, but I think it fossible to a every link pcuect. Still, what is it you pro- ose?” ar This,’ said his lordship. place where she is employed?” “TI do.” “Tt is close by here, is it not r”’ ** Scarce ten minutes’ walk.” “It wants now just that much of nine. Look here, Steggs. At such an hour us this, it is probable she will be making her way homewards,” Quite so, your lordship.” ‘Then take me there at once.” ‘What would you do?” ** Let us both sct upon her and bear her off toa place oe Iler ultimate fate will depend upon her- self. ‘“Then,” said Steggs, ‘if such is your determination, and itis to be carried out to-night, we must leave here this moment.” “So much the better. Come, then, lead me to her werk-place. We will wait there for her to come out. We can manage between us to stifle her cnes, and put her intoa hackney-eoach !” “It can be doue,” said Steggs. “The spot, too, is most favourable, tor after dark it is most lonely. <As o! course you are aware, it is close to Lincoln’s Inn-fields, and, to reach her home, she will Lave to pass down Gate. street and Duke-street.” ‘* Precisely 60.” “That, then, will be the place. It i3 a thousand chances if any one 13 in sight or hearing.” The door was flung open, and the worthy couple deseended the stairs, in order to set out on their ncfarious errand. “Thank coodness!” said Jack, scrambling to his feet, “*T can pu’ a stop to that.” “You say you know the CHAPTER XY. JACK SHEPPARD MAKES A FRIEND WHO CLINGS TO HIM THROUGH LIFE. It was very easy for Jack Sheppard to come to such a determination, but we think he was so much carried away | by what he beard, that he aid not perceive all the obstacles he would have to overcome. His sympathies, as almost every one else’s would have maker, who bad such unscrupulous enemies as his lord. ship and his man Steggs. But it wags very certain no amount of personal peril would deter Jack from making a desperate attempt to rescue the young girl frora their hands. With this resolve, he hastened to the bead of the etairs, and waited. Waited until be thought they bad had time enouwh te DOO 5} (SO) C <SHIGO >